Comments for black and (A)broad

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:03:10 +0000

Hi Melissa,
I’m hearing more and more parents of a three-year-old tell me the same thing, so we’re not unique nor are we doing anything wrong. Always nice to know! Funny thing is, by the time the next vacation season rolls around - the one we’re not planning to go on - our little hellions will be four and probably much more relaxed. We hope. Anyway, thanks for leaving a comment.

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:16:16 +0000

Oh this reminded me of my vacation except for some reason we traded Belgium for Brittany (the weather gods were not kind) and no lice. We certainly had the rambunctious three year old and I am pretty sure we will hold off on a road trip next year after this year’s experience!

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:13:09 +0000

Hi Renelda,
Miami…now that would take some getting used to. I’m from Indiana so I’m at least used to cold weather, although temps don’t get down that low in Holland. But I agree that the summer should feel like summer. I want to walk out my front door into an oven. I want the humidity. I want to complain about the heat and feel the relief of the fall. I never thought I’d say it, but I am getting used to the weather here. I’ve taken on the Dutch mindset of “it is what it is” and go on with my day even when it’s raining. Are you still planning on relocating here?

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Renelda

Renelda — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:19:47 +0000

The way you were describing the vacation I felt I was there. Part of the conversations between you and Paige. I thought that was priceless. I can tell you guys had a blast on your vacation. As for the dutch weather. I have mixed feelings about it. I am from Miami, i love the hot weather and the sun but on my vacation it was raining and gloomy. I do appreciate the green and the clean air but I would love to see sun on August a summer month. Rather, i face a chilly air and rain. But I enjoyed my stay.

Comment on Single Wo(men) - Rejoice! by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:24:47 +0000

Thanks, Kuri, for reading and leaving a comment!

Comment on Single Wo(men) - Rejoice! by kuri

kuri — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:23:48 +0000

Great post!

Thanks for reminding me that there’s a lot of joy to be found everywhere.

Comment on “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” and “The Vixen Manual”: Book Review by black and (A)broad » Blog Archive » Single Wo(men) - Rejoice!

black and (A)broad » Blog Archive » Single Wo(men) - Rejoice! — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:41:53 +0000

[...] the so-called plight of single black women, arguably spearheaded by Steve Harvey’s best-selling Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and brought into prominence on the internet by Nightline’s controversial “Why Are Black Women [...]

Comment on Single Wo(men) - Rejoice! by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:27:38 +0000

Hi Karyn,
thanks for the comment, and I’ll certainly have to do another post on the good things as soon my family starts doing really good things like getting me good gifts for my upcoming birthday LOL

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:02:34 +0000

Hi Sarah,
in fact, now that I think about it, that would have been a nice way for Chloe to continue bonding with Aunt Sarah. I mean, after the Eiffel Tower and all… And every time we got in the car, Paige asked if we were going back to Sarah’s house.

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:42:31 +0000

I had never heard that bit about only white people got lice until now! I feel for you trying to comb Chloe’s hair with that little metal comb though!

Comment on Single Wo(men) - Rejoice! by Karyn Folan

Karyn Folan — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:01:07 +0000

Girl….

You nailed it! I adore being a mom and a wife– far more than I ever would have believed I could as a younger woman. But I miss being able to be sick, uninterrupted sleep and being an individual! But you’ll have to do another blog on the wonderful things about being married with children. Here’s my quick list

1. You always have someone to hug you when you’re down.
2. You get to rediscover the world through the eyes of your children everytime they ask a question or have a new experience.
3. When their teens you get to feel “young” again in ways that surprise you.
4. You always have someone to talk to– even if his/her communication is “goo-goo” or “Uh-huh” (In the case of hubby)
5. You never have to sleep alone– sure uninterrupted nights are hard to come by, but I like rolling over in the night and having some “body” there. LOL!

There are more of course… and I’ll look forward to reading your take on it.

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:02:44 +0000

Hi Saffia,
changing my own expectations is a brilliant suggestion and indeed make it about getting out of our routine. We’ve learned that we also have to change venues. The second part of the trip was much more relaxed as we spent four days at a camp site. Next time we might have to bite the bullet and spend the entire vacation at a camp site. The children relaxed because they were allowed to swim all day and not necessarily go site seeing every day.

The book you suggested sounds good. I don’t know anything about contemp Australia and it would be nice to expand my repertoire. I do love the movies and music they export, though, so it might be good. What do you say? Should we do it?

I’ve been meaning to write to you that over the vacation I read the first two books of the Twilight series. I absolutely loved the first book - even though I would have reservations about letting my adolescent daughter read it. The second one was a bit less engaging, and I’ve still to read the third and buy the fourth. I’m going to reread your posts/review of the series. Thanks anyway for recommending it.

I have a book in my pile called “Diplomatic Incidents” by Cherry Denman. I went to her book launch and bought a copy based on her reading of an incident. It’s basically a collection of stories about Cherry’s life as the wife of a diplomat. It’s definitely got humor and we can certainly relate to the lifestyle.

My book is done and…uh oh…the kids are back. Gotta go.

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Motherhood and Anarchy

Motherhood and Anarchy — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:18:49 +0000

Hi Carolyn. Interesting comments on holidays with children. Yes, in books and magazines they are perfect family moments with endless smiles and laughter. In reality, children don’t change their demands/needs/idiosyncracies just because they are on holiday! Over the years I have learnt not to expect a holiday in the pre-children sense (I used to love lying in the sun and reading) but to see it as a change of scene and the chance to all relax together without mummy and daddy having endless deadlines and distractions. And I have learnt not to rely on the weather - it always lets you down!

I have been so busy I haven’t even had the chance to write up our Slummy Mummy virtual book club chat. It is on my list to do as I value our correspondance. We must find another book to discuss together. Any ideas? I was reading some blogs yesterday and they were talking about The Slap by Christos Tiolkas. Amazon summary is as follows:

“Winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2009, this title is an international bestseller. At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own…The reverberations call into question the relationships between all those who witness it. At a suburban barbecue one afternoon, a man slaps an unruly 3-year-old boy. The boy is not his son. It is a single act of violence, but this one slap reverberates through the lives of everyone who witnesses it happen. In his controversial, award-winning novel, Christos Tsiolkas presents an apparently harmless domestic incident as seen from eight very different perspectives. The result is an unflinching interrogation of our lives today; of the modern family and domestic life in the twenty-first century, a deeply thought-provoking novel about boundaries and their limits… ”

What do you think? I understand it has caused controversy.

Looking at Amazon reviews I’m not sure it’s what I’m expecting. One comment is “If you pick up the book and have a glance at the blurb you might get the impression that it sets out to explore the rights and wrongs of the slapping incident - but the smack seems to be there merely to offer a link between the characters. The book is really a portrait of contemporary and cosmopolitan Australia. As such it is reasonably interesting but plot wise its difficult to glean any point to the story as we meander through the lives of the eight narrators.”

Hm, therefore I’m not sure as it was the “slap” issue that interested me. Someone else describes it as porn! However, others are positive.

How are things going for your book - I like the opening page bio of you.

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:40:32 +0000

Hi Yolanthe,
point well taken. Actually, in the 11 years that I’ve been here, I’ve slowly gotten used to the climate here. I agree with you about the gezelligheid of staying inside and taking it easy. However, in the summer, I long for the sweltering, humid heat that I grew up with in the American midwest. I associate that with summer. And of course Holland wouldn’t be as beautiful as it is were it not for the moisture. I do appreciate that. In fact, I chose Dordogne because it was closer than last year’s destination: Austria and Italy (LOL). I suppose it’s all part and parcel of having young kids, isn’t it? About the color of the font, I’ll play around with other colors. I’m still learning wordpress so making changes doesn’t come easily to me, and this is an expense to my web person that I’d rather not have to incur right now. thanks for commenting. How are you?

Comment on Summer Vacation 2010 by Yolanthe

Yolanthe — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:29:06 +0000

Well, well dear Carolyn, the weather in Holland isn’t that bad. In any case it is a lot better than the sweltering, humid heat waves I have experienced in NY and the Northeast of the USA where people actually do drop dead from the heat. I love the Dutch climate. It makes for vivid green and spectacular skies and great scents as when you walk in the woods during or after a rain shower.
The only thing one needs to weather the weather here is simple rain gear like poncho’s and rubber boots or Teva’s and a decent umbrella. And there is something inherent ‘gezellig’ in spending the day at home, reading, playing games, napping, cooking etc. or whatever when it rains, only to go out for a refreshing walk in or after the rain.
My advice, if you want it, save the stress of driving for hundreds of miles with two small children and stay closer to home. Eventually you might learn to love this climate.
b.t.w. the grey letters on salmon are very difficult to read on my screen (iMac high res) …You may want to choose a darker color.

Comment on So Dutch! by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:18:02 +0000

Hi Carol,
just returned from vacation (another Dutch/European thing), so it’s beautiful to read your comment about my blog. So, so glad it made you laugh. Sometimes I have to write about certain things that happen in order not to cry about it. I’d rather laugh. I’d love to get together and chat. Where are you?

Comment on So Dutch! by Carol

Carol — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:33:04 +0000

OMG! I can’t believe that I am only finding your blog out now. You are too funny! I have found my equal, only thing is she is black and can write out her complains better than I can, in a I-am-a-black-woman-hear-me-roar kind of way. I totally love this blog and I am glued to the computer now. Seriously, I had to stop and laugh as well. There so many occasions that I too have found myself saying “no way in hell” ie. am I going to be cycling with two kids on the bike. I would love love love to talk to you. We would laugh so hard together!

Comment on On Independent Publishing: Part One by Carolyn van Es-Vines

Carolyn van Es-Vines — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:15:57 +0000

Hi Renelda,
the best part of independent publishing is that I don’t have to depend on anyone to tell me what kind of book I can write and whether or not I can publish it. Sure, I’m giving up other things by doing it this way, but I’m focusing on the benefits. Thanks for the pep talk.

Comment on On Independent Publishing: Part One by Renelda

Renelda — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:40:13 +0000

Good job on breaking that cycle. Many writers would accpet that it is better to get a publisher rather than self publis. In life you have to take risk, If many are saying “No” then why not a “Yes”. A “Yes” create opportunites to dicuss and share. I am sure Benjamin Franklin recieved amples no’s from his critics that electricity is impossible.

Overall, say yes to self publishing. Good marketing and the right target readers decides.

YES TO SELF PUBLISHING!

Comment on On Independent Publishing: Part One by Suzanne

Suzanne — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:12:04 +0000

I’m looking forward to reading your book! I’d be happy to review it when it comes out.